Box Office: Dungeons & Dragons Exceeds Expectations (And John Wick 4), But Its Future As A Franchise Is Still Uncertain

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves opened to a whopping $38.5 million at the domestic box office this weekend and has grossed over $71.5 million worldwide.

The opening is inconclusive as to whether Paramount/eOne will continue to make films under the brand’s banner, Deadline reported, as continued performance in the coming weeks will determine whether there are more installments in the series.

With box office victory, Dungeons & Dragons knocked John Wick: Chapter 4 from the top spot as the Keanu Reeves franchise earned $28.2 million domestically in its second week.

Overall, the action film earned $244 million worldwide, including more than $122 domestically. Lionsgate has no shortage of plans for further expansion of the franchise.

Chris Aronson, head of Paramount Domestic Distribution, told the outlet the studio is optimistic about a strong renewal with Dungeons & Dragons.

“With a stellar exit record and a $71 million worldwide launch, the Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves story won’t be over until it’s well advanced,” said Aronson.

Audiences awarded Honor Among Thieves an A-CinemaScore, which kicked off with a strong opening night premiere at SXSW. It scored 91 percent fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.

Aronson told the AP, “We know how good our film is. I know it’s been said before, but I think opening to $38-39 million is just the beginning. That kind of exit poll leads to playability.”

Dungeons & Dragons was also a big roll of the dice. The film, co-produced and co-financed by Paramount along with Hasbro-owned eOne, cost $150 million to produce.

With production costs like this, Dungeons & Dragons will look to April for further sales and similar success overseas, potentially launching another franchise.

Starring Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Rege-Jean Page and Hugh Grant, the film will open in the coming weeks with The Super Mario Bros. Movie opening.

The animated film, which includes the voices of Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy and Jack Black, will not air previews on Tuesday, leaving Dungeons & Dragons less competition with many children not in school on Monday, Deadline reported.

The outlet reported that industry insiders see increasing momentum for The Super Mario Bros. film on its Saturday night debut in Los Angeles with a five-day projection in the $125 million range.

Michelle Rodriguez plays Holga and Chris Pine plays the role of Edgin in the film

Daisy Head plays Sofina in the hit film adaptation

With box office victory, Dungeons & Dragons knocked John Wick: Chapter 4 from the top spot as the Keanu Reeves franchise earned $28.2 million domestically in its second week.

“While this may not be the most profitable March on record, it is one of the best Marches for the industry in its history, after three years of a pandemic-ravaged market,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for Data That Commits to Comscore AP. “March isn’t summer, but it feels like summer, with a bang.”

According to David A. Gross, head of Franchise Entertainment Research, these films helped push the box office up 28.7 percent in 2023, well above last year’s pace. Overall ticket sales are still not at pre-pandemic levels and are 28.8 percent below the 2017-2019 average.

Games and toys also seem to be reliable sources for big screens. Dungeons & Dragons is followed this year by Greta Gerwig’s Barbie and a new Transformers film. The Super Mario Bros. movie is expected to continue the upward trend for the once derided video game adaptation.

Dungeons & Dragons has had little competition from new releases. Christian drama His Only Son debuted to $5.3 million. AV Rockwell’s Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury winner One Thousand and One , about a mother (Teyana Taylor) who kidnaps her son from a foster home, opened to $1.8 million in 926 theaters for Focus Features.

Rounding out the top 10 grossers were Scream VI and His Only Son, which took third place with $5.3 million. Creed III fifth with $5 million; Shazam! Fury of the Gods at $4.7 million; One Thousand One with $1.8 million; 65 with $1.6 million; Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania at $1.2 million; and Jesus Revolution with $1 million.